Automobile-controller.



.0. EULER. AUTOMOBILE GONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26,1911. 1,025,3 7, Patented May 7, 1912.

4 BHBET8-SHEET 1.

0. EULER.

AUTOMOBILE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912 4 BHBETSSHEET 2.

0. EULER. AUTOMOBILE CONTROLLER.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.26. 1911,

Patented May 7, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

" O. EULER.

AUTOMOBILE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED M126. 1911.

1,025, 387. Patented May 7, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' Another exceedingly important object of UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO 'EULER, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

, AUTOMOBILE-CONTROLLER.

ib alliwhom it may concern Be it known that I, OTTo EULER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Jackson,

in th ecounty of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Automoblle-Controller; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description -of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it 10 appertains to makeand use the same.

.The present invention relates to the art of automobiles and it more particularly per- ;tains t-o a new and useful manually lever shifting mechanisms for controlling a plurality of sublevers (which control the transmission gearing of the automobile), so that .any one of the sublevers may be operated forichanging the transmission gearing,

a direct movement of a single element, for

instance the lever. of the shifting mechanism.

The invention in its broadest scope aims as its fundamental object to provide a device of this character, including an interlocking. feature, so that neither one of the shifting jaw levers may be operated or shifted, until a sliding bolt is disengaged fromone or the other ofthe jaw'levers, by means of a movement of a single lever element, for instance, at right angles to the movements of thejaw levers of the afore said mechanism. \Vhen the single lever element of the aforesaid lever shifting mechanism is lnoved at right angles to the movements ofthe jaw levers, one or the other of the jaw levers-is unlocked, and then by shifting ,the single lever element in a .direction at'right angles to its first movement, one or the other of thejaw levers may be operated,

which in turnchanges the transmission gearing of the'au/tomobile.

the invention, resides in the provision of means, whereby the single lever element of the aforesaid'mechanism, may be positively locked in its neutral position, thus insuring the'single lever element against movement, for example accidentally, which, it will be observed would unlock one or the other of the jaw levers. This feature of the invendesign, in which there is involved novel features of construction. In the drawings,

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa te-nted luay 7 19-12, Application filed January 26, 1911. Serial No. 604,743,

' however, there is only disclosed certain fea tures of construction, but in practical fields these features may necessitate alterations, to which the applicant is entitled, provided the features are comprehended by the appended claims. I

The invention includes other features and combination of parts hereinafter set forth v shown in the drawings and'claimed. 4

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing the lever shifting mechanism in conjunction with a plurality of sublevers, which are designed for the purpose of controlling the transmission'gearing (not shown) of an automobile. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the lever shifting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, taken upon line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section, showing the opening- (which includes a plurality of slots orrecesses), in which the single lever element operates. Fig.5 is a perspective view of one of the jaw levers and its spring. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a different arrangement of the vital parts of the mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the sleeve 35. Fig.8 is a detail view in elevation of the lower end of the lever 21 showing its connection with the sleeve 35.

Referring more particularly to the drawings accompanying this specification, and in which the preferred forms of this invention are disclosed, 1 designates a casing or drumlike inclosure, which comprises the central annular portion 2, and the end heads or plates 8 and 4. The end heads or plates in some respects are skeleton-like in form, as Wlll be seen in Fig. 3, and are formed with annular recesses 5 which receive the centralannular portion 2, in the manner shown in Fig. 2'. The end heads are held in place against the annular portion 2, by means of the bolts 6 and the nuts 7 A plurality of sublevers 9 are disclosed, for controlling the brake mechanism (not shown) and the transmission gearing (not shown). The sublevers include the lever 10 for controlling the brake mechanism and the levers 11 and 12 for controlling the transmission gearing. These levers are embodied in all makes and designs of automobiles, and are only disclosed for the purpose of illustration, so as to demonstratethe operation of the lever shifting mechanism. A

plurality of shafts 13, 14 and 15 are provided, which may rotate the sublevers. The lever 10 is carried by. and movable with the innermost solid shaft 15, and is utilized for operating the brake mechanism. The lever 12 is movable with and carried by the shaft- 14, while the lever 11 moves with the shaft 13. The shafts 13, 14 and 15 are telescopically arranged, and .are extended eccentrically into the casing,'as shown'in Fig. 2, and with which the vital parts of the machanism cooperate. The head 4 of the casing is formed with an extension or bracket 16,

opening 19 is designed for the purpose of receiving the single control lever element 21, while the opening 20is utilized for the reception of the lever 22. The lever 22 1o ,tates the shaft 15, which in turn operates the brake mech'anism (not shown). The lever 21 is designed for the purpose of rotating either one of the shafts 13 and 14, by cooperating with one or the other of the jaw levers 23 and 24, it being observed that the jaw lever 23 is keyed as at 25 to rotate with the shaft 14, while the jaw lever 24 is keyed at 26 to move with the shaft 13. The opening 19 of the annular portion 2 of the casing is formed with a plurality of offset recesses 27 28, 29 and 30. When the lever 21 is thrown in engagement with any one of the recesses 27, 28, 29, and 30, the transmission gearing (not shown) is changed, so that the speed of the automobile may be varied. However, when the lever 21 is in a'position between the extensions 31 and 32 of the opening 19, as shown in Fig. 2, the same is in a neutral position, and the vital moving parts of the transmission gearing are out of operation. The lower end of the lever 21 is formed with an enlargement 33 with anopening 34- therein. A sleeve 35 is loosely journaled upon the shaft 14, between the jaw levers 23 and 24. The opening 34 of the enlargement 33 is of a diameter very much larger than the diameter of the sleeve 35, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, in

' threaded bosses 36, which receive'the threaded trunnions 37 which are in the form of bolts. These trunnions pass through openings 38 of the-enlargement 33 at pointsdiametrically opposite one another. These trunnions constitute fulcrums forthe lever 21, soas to permit the lever 21 to be oscilof'the lever 12 of the subl evers S).

lated at right angles to the axis of the sleeve 35, but when the sleeve is rotated upon its axis, the trunnions act as fixed connections .hetween the lever 21 and the sleeve. To look the trunnions securely in place set screws 39 penetrate laterally through the bosses.

Arranged against the adjacent faces of the jaw levers 23 and 24 are the leaf springs 40 and 41. The spring 40 is formed with an opening 42 sufficiently large to receive the shaft 14, while the spring 41 is provided with an opening 43 large enough to receive the shaft 13, as shown in Fig. 2. The leaf springs 40 and 41 are provided with extensions 44, which are bolted to the lower extensions 45 and 46 of the jaw levers 23 and 24, by meansof the bolts 47, so as to move with the jaw levers when oscillated upon their axis. The adjacent faces of the jaw levers at their upper portions are formed with oppositely arranged lugs 48 and 49, between which the upper ends of the leaf springs 40 and 41 are disposed. The springs 40. and 41 are bent toward the lever 21, as, shown in Fig. 2. When the lever 21 is oscillated upon its trunnions, in order to assume a position opposite any one of the recesses 27, 28, 29 and 30, either one of the springs 40 and 41 is placed under tension,

.and' is further received between the lugs 4-8 01'49. When the lever 21 is thus moved the same also enters between either of the lugs 48 or 49, so that the jaw levers 23 and 24 may be permit-ted to move with the lever 21, when the sleeve 35 is-rotated upon its axis by means of the lever 21. hen the lever 21 is arranged in engagement with one or the other of the recesses 27, 28, 29 and 30 the speed of the transmission gearing may be changed. However, when the lever 21 is in its neutral position, between the extensions 31 and 32, the jaw levers 23 and 2-1- are locked'in their neutral positions. by means of a sliding member or bolt 50, which is mounted in guides 51. This sliding bolt enters recesses 52 and 53 of the extensions 45 and 46 of the jaw levers, when. the lever 21 is in its neutral position. However, when the sliding bolt 50.is shifted in one directionor the other by the lever 21, one end or the. other of the sliding'bolt is disengaged from one or the other of the recesses :52 or' 53. If the lever 21 1s oscillated upon its trunnions 1n dlrection of the aw lever '23, one end of the sliding bolt will be removed from' the recess 52, which will per- 'mit the jaw lever 23 to move upon its axis W1th the lever 21. when the sleeve 351s rotated upon its axis. which in turn will partially rotate the shaft 14. thus changing the speed of the transmission gearing. by virtue By thus moving the lever 21 the same enters either one or the recesses 27 or 28, thereby changing the speed of the transmission gearing to a certain degree. By shifting the lever 21 in the direction of the jaw lever 24:, the other end ,of the sliding bolt is removed from the recess 53 of the extension a6 of the jaw lever. 24-, thus permitting the jaw lever tomove with the lever 21, by virtue of the lugs .49. engaging upon each side of the lever 21. By causing the jaw lever 2i and the lever 21 to move as one body, the shaft 13 is partially rotated, which in turn manipulates the lever 11 of the sublevers 9. This operation changes, to a degree,,the speed of the transmission gearing. The sliding bolt 50 is shifted in one direction or the other, through the medium of the permanentengagement between a sector-shaped extension of the lever 21 and the recess 55 of the sliding bolt. The recess 55 is so arranged relatively with regard to the sectorshaped extension 54, as to permit the lever 21 to be oscillated upon its axis at rightangles to the axis of the trunnions. In Fig. 2, however, it will be observed that the lower portion of the annular part of the casing is provided with a slot, to one side of the jaw lever 23. Upon each side of this slot 56 an ear 57 is arranged. These ears 57 are perforated as. shown at 58, and extend through the slot 56 and between the ears 57 is a lug 59 of the sliding bolt 50. This lug 59 of the sliding bolt is also provided with a perforation 60. hen the lever 21 is in its neutral position the perforations 58 and 60 are in registration, which will thus permit a pad-lock 61 to engage the perforations; By the'provision oft-his paddock it will be evident that the lever 21 may be positively locked against movement, thus insuring the automobile against theft.

The brake lever 22 within the casing immediately below the upper portion of the casing, as shown in Fig. 3, has pivoted to it a dog 62, the nose 63 of which is designed to engage between any two teeth of the rack-segment 64, shown in Fig. 3. This rack-segment is secured to the casing as at 65 and 66. Pivoted to the dog 62, at a point a short distance from the nose 63 is oneend of the rod 67 while the other end of the rod extends centrally through a cylindrical barrel 68 of the lever22. This rod 67 at its upper portion is formed with a shoulder 69, between which and a flange 70 of the cylindrical barrel 68 a spring 71 is interposed. This spring is designed for the purpose of holding the rod 67 in its uppermost position within the barrel. The spring not only performs this function, but also holds the nose 63 of the dog 62 in engagement between any two teeth of the segment 6%, whereby the brake lever 22 may be held in various adjusted positions.

partially rotated, which in turn operates the lever 10 of the sublevers 9'in one direction or the other, thereby applying the brake mechanism.

In view of the foregoing it will be observed that there has been provided a novel mechanism for controlling a plurality of sublevers, which in turn controls the transmission gearing of the automobile. Furthermore it will be noted that there has been provided a novel. interlocking mechanism for locking the jaw levers in their neutral positions, there being included a novel arrangement embodying an attaching device for positively locking the single lever control in its neutral position, thereby insuring the automobile against theft.

It has been found through practical demonstrations that a practical mechanism has been devised, and one which will meet the practical demand in the automobile industry, commercially as well as in a practical manner.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a. mechanism as set forth; a pair of rocking members; interlocking means therefor; and means capable of oscillatory movements for moving the interlocking means, and then moving one or the other of the rocking members; an inclosure therefor, the interlocking means and the inclosure having registerable members, and an attaching device to engage the registerable members for positively locking the rocking members and the oscillatory means in their neutral positions.

2. In a mechanism as set forth: an inclosure; a pair of rocking members therein; interlocking means therefor; and means ca-- pab-le of oscillatory movements at right angles to oneanother for moving the interlocking means, and then moving one or the other of the rocking members: and means for maintaining the oscillatory means in its neutral position; the interlock ing means and the inclosure having registerable members, and an attaching device to engage the registerable members for positively locking the rocking members and the oscillatory means in their neutral positions.

3. In a controlling mechanism for auto mobiles, an inclosure, a pair of rocking members therein, an interlocking device therefor having a notclnand a lever having a sector to engage the notch and fulcrumed between the members capable of movements at right angles to the members for actuating the interlocking device, then moving one or the other of the rockingv members, the interlocking device having a lug extending through the wall of the inclosure, the in- Vhen the closure having lugs, one arranged on "each brake lever 22is moved in one direction or side of the first lug, the lugs having registhe other the solid mnermost shaft 15 1S 1 terable apertures, and an attaching device to engage the apertures for positively looking the vrocking members and the fulcrumed ever.

' at. In a controlling mechanism for'automobiles having an inclosure, a pair of rock ing members therein, an interlocking device therefor, and a lever fulcrumed between the members capable of movements at right angles to one another for actuating .the interlocking device, and then Inbviiig vangles to one another for actuating the in-- terlocking device, andthen moving one or the other of the rocking members, and

. means interposed between the rocking mernbers upon either side of the lever for meantainingthe lever in its neutral position, said interlock ng devlce and the inclosure havmg registerable members, and an attaching device engageable with the registerable members for locking the rocking members and the lever 1n their neutral positions.

6.,I'n a controlling mechanlsm for automobiles, an inclosure including. a plurality of telescopically arranged shafts eccentrically penetrable through the inclosure; in combination with a plurality of sublevers v, for controlling a transmission gearing; a

rocking member movable with each of two shafts, aninte'rlocking device for locking the rocking members and provided with a notch, a lever having a sector to engage the notch and arranged between the rocking members to have oscillatory movements at right angles ,to one another for .movingthe interlocking device to release the rocking members, and then rocking the rocking members. for moving one or the other of two of the shafts, said interlocking device and the inclosure having registerable members, and an attachingdevice engageable with the registerable members for locking the rocking members and the lever in their neutral positions.

7. In a controlling mechanism for auto- --mobiles, an inclosure including a plurality of telescopically arranged shafts eccentrically penetrable through the inclosure; in combination with a plurality of snblevers for controlling a transmission gearing; a rocking member movable with each of two shafts, an interlocking device for locking,

the rocking members, a. lever arranged be -tween the rocking members to have oscillateases? tory movements at right angles to one another for moving the interlocking device to release the rocking members, and then rocking the rocking members, for moving one or the other of two of the shafts, and means arranged between the rocking members upon either side of the lever for maintaining the lever in its neutral position, the

interlocking device including registerable members, and an attaching device engageable with the registerable members for locking the rocking members and the lever in their neutral positions.

8. In acontrolling mechanism for automobiles, an inclosure including a plurality of telescopically arranged shafts eccentrically penetrable through the inclosure; in combination with a plurality of sublevers for controlling a transmission gearing; a

lever movable with the innermost shaft for controlling the brake lever of the sublevers, the lever for controlling the brake lever having means for holding it inadjusted positions; a rocking" member movable with each of the two outer shafts and provided with oppositely arranged lugs at the upper portions, an interlocking device for engaging the lower ends of the rockingmembers for locking them, a lever fulcrumed upon one of the two shafts and between the rocking members to. have oscillatory movements at right angles to one another for -movin the interlockin device to release the, rocking members, and then to enter between the lugs for rocking the rocking members, thus moving one or the other of two of the shafts, said interlocking device including registerable members, and an attaching device engageable with the registerable members for locking the rocking members and the lever which is capable of oscillatory movements at right angles to one another in their neutral positions.

9. A controlling mechanism for automobiles, an inclosure therefor, a plurality of telescopically arranged shafts, one including means for controlling the brake mechanism, while the other two embody rocking elements for controlling a transmission gearing, a sleeve loosely and rotatably journaled upon one of the other two shafts, an interlocking sliding bolt for locking the rocking members and provided with a notch, a lever fulcrumed to the sleeve for oscillating at,

right angles to the axis of the-sleeve, the

'lever being so fulcrumed as to rotate the sleeve upon its axis, the lever having a sector to engage the'notch for shifting the interlocking sliding bolt when oscillated at right angles to the axis of the sleeve for releasing the rocking members, the rocking members including means to be engaged by the oscillatory lever for enabling one or the other of the rocking members to move with the oscillatory lever, when the sleeve is partially rotated ulion its axis, said sliding bolt and the inclosnre having registerable members, and an attaching device engage.

able with the registerable members for holding the oscillatory lever in its neutral pothe oscillatory lever yieldably in its neul tral position, when the attaching device is 10 not employed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

OTTO EULER.

Witnesses:

VVEsLnY BILLINGS, EDWY S. MURPHEY. 

